========================================================================== Music Forum ========================================================================== Another column of news, information and gut-busting excitement dedicated to the Amiga music scene... Things have been quiet lately - the main inspirations have come from the fabulous music in Unreal (by Maniacs of Noise), Bjorn Lynnes excellent Moongazer (which will be on the next issue - thanks Bjorn!) Fred Hahns 100% spot-on Galway conversions from the '64 and Al Brimbles latest works including the very nice Full Contact music score. Now come on, I know lots of Amiga musicians are reading this column so why not drop us a line either through the post, on the phone or via the BBS? It's your column too, y'know! The only way we can promote musicians is if we hear from you.... so get to it! Also welcomed are any questions, hints, tips and advice please pass this on so we can inform other users... we're particularly interested in people doing user-guides for the more popular software, such as Music-X and Noisetracker, any takers ?? July saw the great Jarre extravaganza and Jarre-fan Al Brimble reckoned it was great, Ron went too but spent most of the time being ill... also the debate about the new Jarre album rolls on... after visiting Allister the other week and getting a reasonable amount of drink into him, he sat gazing out into the night and reckoned the 45minute Cousteau track was staggering and soooo meaningful.. I'd had a few as well and I reckon it was still rubbish! Anyway I'm sure Jarre fans will appreciate Allisters conversion of Equinoxe 2 on this issue of Newsflash, check out WILDWESTKID on the 2nd disk for a great piece of music also by Allister - that piece (created on Noistracker - so was Equinoxe 2) contains lengthy samples that have reverb effects on them, making them sound much better, more "live".. see what you think and, as usual.. pump up the volume through the hifi.. Next issue sees the inclusion of Moongazer by Bjorn Lynne (aka Dr. Awesome) and this is a very nice piece of music, and I've been giving this some serious listening to lately and I'm sure music fans will lap it up. By the way, both Bjorn and Allister log onto the Newsflash BBS so you can get directly in contact with them now! Leave messages to "Dr. Awesome" or "Allister Brimble" respectively... upload music-info or pieces too if you like! There are also many examples of music on the board ready for downloading... Perhaps one of the most common things I hear with music is the effect gained by using the original ST-01 and ST-02 sample-disks... these instruments have been used thousands of times and nowadays the quality of them is a little lacking, so if you're creating music please have a go at getting hold of new instrument disks or sample them yourself. One option is to rip instruments too, any good ripper should work fine, like the Noisemon on this issue... that way you can get yourself some terrific instruments for little effort, and despite their claims.. many musicians do it too.. :^D Music-X has been selling well at the new price (as low as £50 at some shows) and I'm hoping more people continue to make best use of this terrific midi package. I was particularly distressed after the recent WALL 90 concert in Berlin, where the album was ruined really by such artists like Cyndi Lauper.. why old Rog Waters let her anywhere near I dunno.. oh hum and it wasn't the same without Davey-babe Gilmour on the guitar.. Best experience of the month was when me and a pal stayed at Al's place for 4 days and after going out and getting a tad tipsy we went up to the top room of the house, where you can see for miles all around the quiet moors, sat down with our feet hanging outta the window in the cool air.. grabbed a bottle of beer, put the lights out, put THE WALL on the CD and listened to it... Al improvised along with the album on his various synths and it was brilliant especially the Acoustic guitar bits which Al added... he'd never heard it before either but did a sensational job.. it was indescribeable because the street-lights far below cast weird shadows all around the strange shaped room, it was just far-out man! Totally relaxing and probably the most enjoyable couple of hours serious music listening I've done for ages. Book your own Pink Floyd and Al Brimble support concert right away... I'm also seriously thinking about producing an album of Midi music by the best Amiga musicians as many of them own synths and stuff.. if you'ld like to participate with this on a trial basis, drop me a line and we'll sort something out, I talked to Allister and he was keen to try, I'm sure Bjorn would have a go.. I know Ron Klaren produces Midi stuff too - how about it Ron ? If you'ld like to hear the Midi music produced by these guys then drop me a line.. some of their stuff tears commercial offerings to pieces... As ever the music forum was held by Martyn, drop me a line at ... Po Box 13, Ossett, W.Yorks, WF5 OXA England. Tel +44 (0)924 265593 (after 7pm for the support bbs)